jeffs1130 Posted December 14, 2018 Share #1 Posted December 14, 2018 I know there's a section to post WWII German Issued POW Tags, but this story is far to complex to cram into there. So I thought I’d share it here! I have been looking for a German issued POW tag attributed to an American Soldier for quite some time. Unfortunately most for sale are ether not issued to Americans or the history behind them is unknown… Those with history can be very expensive and hard to find! So a few months ago when a WWII German Issued POW Tag popped up on eBay I deiced to take a chance and buy it! The seller, from Ohio, posted very little in the description, so I decided to message him to see if I could find out more. The seller told me he found the tag while cleaning out his friend’s dad’s house in the 1970’s. The seller stated he found the tag and recognized it as a German issued POW tag because his father was an ex-POW. He said he asked the friend about the tag and the friend said he could have it. After years of sitting around, the seller decided to offer it up on eBay. Anyhow, the seller told me his friends name was Ralph Ball, and he believed his father was also named Ralph but wasn’t 100%. So I did some digging and I think the seller did some too… He must have gone on the NARA POW site where you can search POW names because he did find a “Ralph Ball” who was in Stalag 12A and from Ohio. The seller was now confident in telling me “Ralph” was the guy! I wasn’t so easily convinced, so I did my own digging and red flags started popping up! First, the number range seem off for the date “Ralph” was captured and he was an Officer… Secondly, I found a obit notice for “Ralph” and it made no mention of a Son… Third, Ralph lived across the state and the seller told me he was from Cleveland… All those things made me think “Ralph” wasn’t the right guy… After searching the last name “Ball” on the NARA POW site and running a few enlisted serial numbers, I finally found a candidate that matched the hometown location, time frame, and family member! Unfortunately, the only thing odd was the Stalag didn’t match that on the tag…So I was 99% sure “Russell Ball” was my guy! Unfortunately, very little was posted on the NARA POW site about him… It only mentioned he was in the Signal Corps. So I thought that’s where my story would end… Only 99% sure I had the right guy but never really knowing… Not ready to give up I decided to send off to St. Louis to see if any military files existed for him. That was a shot in the dark as 90% of the WWII Files were destroyed in the fire… After several months of nothing, I finally got a response saying damaged files were located and were being treated. I was surprised but only expecting 5 or less pages of ash or final payment notices… Was I in for a big surprise!!! When the files came in there was some 75 pages!! By some miracle, his Army Personnel file had survived the fire! Yes, there were many burnt tops and edges, but for the most part the file was complete! To my great surprise the unit listed for Russell Ball was the 101st Airborne Signal Company of the 101st Airborne Division! Ball was one of the original members of the 101st Division, a transfer from the 82nd Airborne that help create the 101st Airborne Division in 1942! Amazingly there were still more surprises to come! Staff Sergeant Ball was captured in Normandy, France on June 6th 1944, D-Day!! Along with 8 other men in his Comm. Line Crew. I was shocked but still nervous as no POW connections were made yet to the POW Tag…. Finally there is was!! A postcard sent by SSGT Ball from Germany with his POW number, the same number on the Tag! Many more documents were present with the same number confirming 100% that this tag was issued to S/Sgt Russell Ball. This is why I love colleting! I love doing the research and seeing where it goes! You just never know what you’ll find! From almost trash to a real piece of treasure! Staff Sergeant Russell Ball - "You Are Not Forgotten" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs1130 Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted December 14, 2018 "Left airfield by glider near Reading, England on June 6, 1944, at approx. 2000, landed near Carentan, France, myself & remainder of crew were captured shortly after by enemy paratroops. Were transported by vehicle & foot to Chartie, France & then by train to Stalg IVB Muhlburg on the Elbe River about 90 miles south of Berlin and in November to Stalag IIIC at Kustrin, Germany 50 miles east of Berlin. Was liberated by Russian troops 31 Jan 45." – S/Sgt R.N. Ball Russell Ball Highschool Yearbook Pic (1935) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted December 14, 2018 Share #3 Posted December 14, 2018 Great detective work and neat to see such a complete file still available at NARA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted December 14, 2018 Share #4 Posted December 14, 2018 Well done ! Wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted December 14, 2018 Share #5 Posted December 14, 2018 its always great too someone's file survived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted December 14, 2018 Share #6 Posted December 14, 2018 Great tag. Thank god that file survived. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted December 15, 2018 Share #7 Posted December 15, 2018 Here is a cool newspaper article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer! Thanks for sharing . . . really cool tag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted December 15, 2018 Share #8 Posted December 15, 2018 Another: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian from Columbus Posted December 15, 2018 Share #9 Posted December 15, 2018 That is fantastic work! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 15, 2018 Share #10 Posted December 15, 2018 Super sleuthing! Great tag! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs1130 Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted January 17, 2019 NARA File Copy Cuyahoga County, Ohio Copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 17, 2019 Share #12 Posted January 17, 2019 Great Job ID'ing this! Sometimes this is the only way to do it. I have a couple where I couldnt prove it until I got the files from the NARA. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collector .45 Posted January 17, 2019 Share #13 Posted January 17, 2019 Fantastic research on a very interesting piece! County records can be amazing resources, if the records are avaliable to the public. There are several counties here in Minnesota and just over the border in Iowa that no longer allow researchers to get copies of discharge documents due to privacy concerns. It's held me up on a few projects over the last few years. Great research and a truly great piece! Thanks for posting. - Henry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted January 17, 2019 Share #14 Posted January 17, 2019 Congratulations, that's a great bit of detective work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted January 18, 2019 Share #15 Posted January 18, 2019 Very nice detective work...congratulations! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted January 19, 2019 Share #16 Posted January 19, 2019 Great tag and history! Thanks for posting. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 3, 2019 Share #17 Posted February 3, 2019 Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted February 3, 2019 Share #18 Posted February 3, 2019 Great work ... that is why we do this. To preserve our history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted February 3, 2019 Share #19 Posted February 3, 2019 Great job on restoring the veterans history to this tag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Kibler Posted April 11, 2019 Share #20 Posted April 11, 2019 Just seeing this now.... What a wonderful surprise! Well done and congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs1130 Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #21 Posted June 6, 2019 BTT for D-Day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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